I guess you know you're an adult when the prospect of purchasing new appliances is met with something other than wishing to throw yourself in the floor, kick and scream and cry and pout about the unfairness of it all.....

When I bought my townhouse, it was not yet built. The builder provided certain appliances which I was sure were the cheapest things they could lay hands on. They offered 'upgrades' but I figured I'd just pay more for less and wouldn't really have any choice in the matter. So I decided to go with the 'crap' and then replace them as soon as possible.

Then the recession hit. Bummer! New appliances were pushed to the bottom of the list.

This summer, the dishwasher went from noisy and inefficient to deafeningly loud and inefficient. I figured it's time was short. The dishes are clean but the noise it takes to get them that way is really no fun for anyone.

Luckily, we got a bit of a bonus this Christmas, so on Christmas Eve, I headed down to H.H. Gregg to shop for a new machine. I had done some research on the ones in my price range and decided on either an LG or a GE. When I got down there, the nice salesman showed me this KitchenAid, which was on sale and nicer than either of the other two I had picked out, so I went with it.

They delivered it on Sunday (yes, the day after Christmas in a snowstorm - H.H. Gregg is cool like that).

Here it is in the kitchen.

Yay!

I am happy to report that in addition to being good looking, it is also quiet - as well as energy and water efficient.

The other night I woke up at like 3 in the morning and I started to worry about some little thing or another.

And I said to myself "Is this really what you want to do? You want to seriously tell me that you want to lay here, in your bed, in the dark and worry about bullshit? Would you rather do that or think about... Johnny Depp?"

I decided to go with thinking about Johnny and drifted back off to sleep with happy thoughts.

And yes, I have seen The Tourist twice. And yes, I'm going to see it again. And buy it on DVD. My lust knows no boundaries.

12.28.2010

"I do think New Years' Resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also, dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea, as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions begin generally on January the second."

12.27.2010

Hi! Are we all back? In one piece? I hope no one had to sleep in an airport!!!

This is a super quick post to say "Hi" and "I'm still here" and "I have TOTAL Christmas hangover!"

It was a wonderful holiday - full of [actual, genuine] cheer, good friends, good food, puppy kisses, gifts, naps, an amazing candlelit Christmas service and finally, a lovely snow storm here in the Queen City.

We couldn't have asked for a nicer Christmas.

I'll be sort of 'micro blogging' this week - whatever that means. To me it means that I need to think of something profound to say but I'm running in 5 different directions so I'll just give you little blasts now and then.

Hopefully, everything will settle down a little after this week and I can actually begin to think about something more meaningful to say. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime, thank you all so much for stopping by to spend a little time with me. I really appreciate it.

Let's hope for a great week. We all have some resolutions to think up, don't we? I know I'm kinda working on them.

First, I have a serious handbag addiction. Serious. And in my defense, in 2009 I went for almost 12 months without buying a bag or even seeing one that I really wanted. I thought that maybe - maybe - I was getting over it.

In 2010 I think we can all agree that I have fallen off the wagon.... miserably. But there has to be an upside to spinsterhood and childlessness, so I figure as long as my bills are paid and my 401K is funded, I can have a bag every now and again.... Or two bags. Or whatever. As the case may be.

Second, lately my bag lust has been focused on Rebecca Minkoff. Probably because I want something a little more fun and also because these bags are sort of rare for Charlotte. Everybody has Coach and Kate Spade. Even Louis Vuitton and Prada are fairly well represented. Rebecca Minkoff - not so much. And I like to be different.

This brings me around to the purpose of this post.

The other night I was walking down the Mall and when I went past the Seven for All Mankind store, I saw this little darling out of the corner of my eye - the Heavy Metal Flame bag.

I said "I didn't know they carried Rebecca Minkoff! I must investigate!"

So I went in - you know, just to look......

They said "You know, they are all on sale for 30% off."

Well, that's like dangling raw meat in front of Old Yeller, isn't it?

So I said "OK. Ring me up".

And she did - but here's the good part.

This bag retails for $495. Not cheap. But 30% off is better. But it rang up as $199. And she sold it to me for that..... She said "Well, huh. OK. That's what it rang up as and that's what you get it for."

I said "I like you."

And I feel that it was a message from God. You know. "You've behaved this year. You deserve a cute leather bag."

12.20.2010

I hope everyone had a happy weekend before Christmas. Mine was not as productive as I had hoped but I did manage to get everything wrapped and ready to ship.

I also picked up the house a bit and finished all the laundry.

Oh - and I saw The Tourist. I know it got bad reviews but I have to say that I really liked it. It was silly and escapist and that's what I wanted it to be so I have no complaints. And did I mention Johnny Depp. You know if he's there I just feel like it would be pretty impossible for me not to have a good time.

I'm hoping this week is slow and easy. Having said that, some shit will probably explode in my office. But then again, it is Christmas. Hopefully, everyone is like the court system - mostly on vacation.

12.17.2010

I'm beat. And I'm still not done shopping for Christmas. I've got to get it done and get everything wrapped.

*heavy sigh*

But I'm having fun and am not at all grinch-y so I guess everything is ok, huh?

This weekend is shaping up to be contentedly busy but not so crazy as last weekend ('cause I really can only take about one of those weekends a month...). I'm getting my bangs cut on Saturday (or my 'fringe trimmed' as the Aveda people would say) and then I'm going to finish up my last minute gifts and get everything wrapped.

Other than that, I hope to get a pedicure and make time to see "The Tourist" at some point. I know it's gotten horrible reviews, but I'm willing to be bored as long as I can lust for Johnny Depp in the meantime. Is that wrong? 'Cause if loving him is wrong I don't wanna be right.

So I hope everyone has a great weekend full of happy and presents and running around and all that nonsense. Have a great time!

I am a crazy, do it right now, check-three-times-before-I-go-to-bed door locker. I lock every door behind me right after I come in the house. And I double check it to make sure.

You are all going to think that I'm completely paranoid and/or crazy, but I don't care. And you may also think I'm telling you something that you already know but I'm going to say it anyway:

Lock your damn doors.

I'll say it again: Lock your damn doors!

I'm talking about your back doors, your storm doors and your basement doors. And I'm talking about locking them all the time. And I mean go do it right now. And if you're not sure if it's locked, go check it. And if you have a lock and a deadbolt, lock both of them.

Did you know that last year the president of the student body at UNC Chapel Hill was brutally murdered by two psychopaths? Well, she was. They came into her home in the middle of the night and then they murdered her after they took her out and made her withdraw the money from her bank account. They pushed her out of the car in the middle of an intersection and blew her head off with a shotgun.

They walked in through an unlocked door.

Have you been following the murder trial in Connecticut involving the Petit family? Those monsters walked into their house through an unlocked basement door.

A few years ago a young woman in Clemson, South Carolina was raped and murdered in her apartment. The guy followed her home from jogging and just followed her into her home. She didn't lock the door behind her.

And the anchorwoman in Little Rock who was raped and beaten to death in her bed - the guy walked in through a door she left open for her dogs.

So if you're home, lock your doors. Lock them now. Lock all of them. And your windows, too. Lock them behind you when you walk in the house. Don't wait and do it later. Don't think it won't matter.

Don't make it easy for anyone to come in and hurt you.

Unfortunately, those people are out there, even in the safest neighborhoods.

Dr. Petit was on Oprah last week. I have never seen a more pitiful, absolutely broken person. He told her he ran through all the 'what ifs' in his head. When she asked him what the 'what ifs' were, he said "What if someone had just slid that latch shut (on the basement door)".

So take care of yourselves. Please. Lock your doors. Image: Doorknob by Jennopolis.

Hi! I'm Tonya and this is my blog. I am an attorney and I live with two very spoiled Pembroke Welsh Corgis in Charlotte, North Carolina. As somewhat of a surprise to myself - and others - I have reached a certain age and failed to marry. Horrors! Don't worry, though, I'm not dead yet. There may be hope for me. In the meantime, I've decided to explore the life that you have when you are a girl with no husband and no babies. What happens when the choices you make lead you away from the life you thought you'd have? What sights can be seen from the road less taken? This is where I'll share my thoughts on life, love, law, corgis and my never ending quest for the perfectly appointed home.